Page 43 of On a Midnight Clear

If it wasn’t for the inconspicuous sign half hidden by the rocking chair on the front porch , Sherod’s Sporting House would have looked like any other slightly rundown home in the area.

From the outside. The inside was another matter.

A hard-faced man with bulging muscles and an impressively curled mustache showed Frank and Randolph into a parlor decorated with thick red draperies, fringed lamps, and paintings of scantily clad and not-at-all clad women.

Heat engulfed Frank’s face, and his gaze immediately dropped to the carpet.

Not only to avoid looking at any of the inappropriate artwork but to avoid making eye contact with any of the other gentlemen in the room.

What if someone recognized him and assumed he was here for .

.. entertainment? The thought made him ill.

Until he recalled Stella preparing to march over here to storm the castle herself.

Courage , man. You and the Good Lord both know why you’re here. Just do what needs to be done and quit worrying about what others might think of you.

“Well, hello, gentlemen.” A middle-aged woman with rouged cheeks and kohl-rimmed eyes sauntered over to greet them, her gaze carrying a calculating gleam.

“Welcome to Sherod’s.” She coiled her fingers around Muir’s arm, then leaned close and patted Frank’s lapel.

“First time, honey? No need to be nervous. My girls’ll be gentle with you.

” She laughed softly, a husky sound that was likely meant to entice, but it accomplished the opposite effect.

“I’m not here for ... that,” Frank murmured in a low voice as he stepped backward and crinkled his nose against the cloying scent of the madam’s perfume. “I’m looking for a woman who works here. One who gave birth recently. Could you arrange an introduction? I just want to talk to her.”

Muir was working to disentangle himself from the bold female when Frank’s words set off an unpleasant reaction.

The madam’s smile tightened, and anger flashed in her gaze. “This ain’t a talkin’ house, boys. It’s a sportin’ house. And if you ain’t gonna pay, I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.” She motioned to the large fellow at the edge of the room.

“We’ll pay,” Frank blurted in a desperate attempt to stave off the advance of the muscled doorman currently cracking his knuckles and stretching his neck as if preparing for a physical altercation.

Frank fumbled for his billfold and pulled out a few dollars. He handed them to the madam, who raised an eyebrow at the sight of the money. She snatched the bills from his hand, folded them, and tucked them into the neckline of her dress.

“Fine. You can stay, but only for entertainment purposes. If I catch you askin’ anyone else your insulting questions, Hastings will show you out. With extreme force. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The sound of more knuckles cracking directly behind Frank sent a shudder through him, but he held his ground. Stella was counting on him. He’d not let her down.

The madam’s eyes gleamed with malice. “None of my girls would be foolish enough to get themselves with child, and I won’t have you disturbing my guests with your unfounded accusations.”

Because men facing the consequences of their actions would be bad for business. But if he couldn’t ask around for the missing mother, how would they find her?

A blond woman in a blue dress that left most of her chest and all of her arms exposed pushed away from the bar she’d been leaning against and sashayed toward them.

A leg wrapped in black stockings peeked through the slit of a skirt that stopped several inches above her ankles.

Her attention seemed fixed on Frank, but he couldn’t manage to hold her gaze.

He trained his eyes on the floor until she pressed up against his side.

“Hey, sugar. Buy me a drink?” She leaned close and blew softly in his ear. He jerked involuntarily, which caused her to laugh, but she didn’t pull away. In fact, she took hold of his arm and squeezed. “Leave this one to me, Opal. I’ll make sure he has a real good time.”

“And I’ll take care of this one.” A giggly redhead who looked younger than most of the female students at Baylor cozied up to Muir. “You know how I love older men.”

At her age, every man was older.

Frank’s companion tugged on his arm and drew him toward the bar.

Deciding that going with her was less dangerous than engaging with Mr. Hastings, Frank followed.

She ordered a pair of drinks, Frank paid, then she started doing the ear thing again.

Only this time instead of blowing air, she whispered instructions.

“Relax, Professor.”

Professor? She knew who he was? A mortified moan rumbled in his throat.

“I know who you’re looking for, but you’re gonna have to play along, or Opal will get suspicious. You found the baby, didn’t you?”

Frank reined in his surprise and dipped his chin in a subdued nod. It seemed his thespian skills weren’t quite ready for retirement after all.

“Put your arm around my waist,” his instructor whispered before reaching for the glass of whiskey he’d bought her. “What’s your name, sugar?” She asked the question in a normal volume, cueing him that the performance had begun.

“F-Frank.”

She beamed a smile at him, ignoring his stammer.

“Strong name for a strong man,” she purred, her flattery as empty as his wallet was sure to be at the end of this evening.

She took a tiny sip of her drink, then walked her fingers up the front of his jacket.

“I’m Pearl. You and me are gonna get along just fine, honey. ”

Frank swallowed hard. “You, ah ... want to go upstairs?”

Her eyes lit with approval as her mouth curved into a well-practiced seductive smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”

She slid her hand down his arm, laced her fingers through his, then led him past a distinctly uncomfortable-looking Muir, who was dancing by the piano with the giggly redhead.

Frank tugged Pearl to a halt. “What about my friend?”

She laughed as if he’d said something exceedingly witty. “Don’t you worry, sugar. Miss Ruby will show him a great time.”

Frank decided to focus on the don’t you worry part of that statement, praying it meant Miss Ruby was in on the subterfuge.

Offering no further resistance, he followed Pearl to the second floor and down a dim hallway.

Instead of stopping in one of the rooms with an open door, however, Pearl led him to a narrow back staircase that led to the third-floor attic.

A single long room with a ceiling that slanted on both sides stretched out before him.

A series of cots lined each wall with a washstand on one side and an open wardrobe containing a handful of colorful dresses on the other.

“Wait here.” Pearl released his hand and hurried down to the last cot on the left, where someone lay under a dingy-looking blanket. “Jade? It’s Pearl. Wake up, honey. There’s a man here to see you.”

“I can’t, Pearl. Not tonight.”

Frank strained to hear her from across the room. Her voice was small and clogged with tears.

Pearl sat on the edge of the cot, her face aglow from the light of the candle next to Jade’s bed.

Pearl glanced back at Frank, her face suddenly looking years younger than it had downstairs.

“He’s not that kind of man. He’s one of the wise men we saw in the nativity play this afternoon. He found your baby.”

Jade gasped and sat straight up in bed, her wild gaze searching through the dark. “Curtis?” She grabbed Pearl’s arm. “He can’t be here. You know that. Opal will kill him.”

Frank stepped into the room. “Your baby’s safe, miss. He’s with a friend of mine. On the other side of town.” Thank the Lord. The idea of Stella or an innocent babe being anywhere near this place filled his chest with ice.

“It is the wise man.” Jade’s voice shook with awe as she pushed aside the blanket and swung her legs over the side of the cot.

She wore a simple calico dress of modest design, likely one that had belonged to her before she’d come to work at Sherod’s.

“You found my baby? Is he all right? I hated leaving him out there in the cold, but I didn’t know what else to do.

Opal threatened to kick me out if I didn’t get rid of him.

I have no money and nowhere to go. No one to take me in.

Without the protection of this house, I’d freeze to death on the streets. ”

Frank felt her desperation claw through him like a living thing, and his heart melted.

“Your baby is fine. He’s out of the cold and being tended to by a pair of ladies who’ll see he has everything he needs.

” He walked deeper into the room. “But what Curtis really needs is his mother. That’s why my friend and I have come.

To offer you and Curtis a chance for a fresh start. ”

“I ... I don’t understand.”

Footsteps on the stairs had all three of the room’s occupants holding their breath. Frank turned to face whoever approached, ready to battle but praying it wouldn’t be necessary. When he saw Muir’s face emerge from the stairwell, he released his breath and smiled in relief.

He waved Muir forward, then turned back to the women. “This is my friend Randolph Muir. He’s the one who found your son in the manger and the one who would like to help you be a mother to him.”

When Muir came alongside him, Frank made the introductions. “This is Jade. The babe’s mother.”

“Gladys,” she corrected. “My real name is Gladys. Jade’s my working name.”

Muir stepped forward and sketched a small bow. “Miss Gladys. I’d like to tell you a story, if I may. And ask you a few ... personal questions.”

She gave him an odd look but nodded. “All right.”

Muir seated himself on the cot across from hers and began telling the tale of his daughter.

Pearl rose and gave the two a bit of privacy, moving to Frank’s side. “You fellas really gonna get her out of here?”

“If she’s willing.” Frank considered the woman beside him. “We could get you out as well. Give you a fresh start in a new place. Ruby too.” He frowned and looked around. “Where is Ruby?”

Pearl smiled. “Down in one of the sporting rooms, jumping on the bed.” She chuckled softly when Frank’s forehead wrinkled in confusion.

“In case anyone should walk down the hall to check on us.” Pearl winked.

“She’s making sure they hear what they need to hear.

And probably having the time of her life.

” Her smile faded. “Genuine pleasure is rare in this line of work.”

“You don’t have to stay here. Either of you. We can get you out.”

Pearl swiveled her head in the direction of the single window at the end of the room, a touch of wistfulness softening her features before she forced it away with a shake of her head.

“You’re sweet to offer, Professor, but I’m stayin’.

Ruby swears she has a cowboy savin’ up his pay so he can come back and marry her.

I tried telling her those kind of promises are empty, but she insists her cowboy is different.

That he’s comin’ for her. She won’t leave.

And I can’t go knowin’ she’s here. Someone’s got to look out for the young’uns.

Heaven knows Opal ain’t gonna do it. All that woman cares about is linin’ her pockets.

” She manufactured a smile and patted Frank’s chest. “Don’t you worry ’bout savin’ me, Professor.

I got a little nest egg set aside. When the time is right, I’ll save myself. ”

“I’m sure you will.” He prayed that day would come soon. The longer she stayed in this life, the harder it would be to leave.

Before he could say anything more, Muir rose to his feet and turned to face Frank. “Gladys has agreed to return to Cambridge with us.”

Pearl hurried to Gladys’s side and wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Are you sure, honey?” She lowered her voice. “There’s no guarantee you ain’t jumpin’ from the fryin’ pan into the fire.”

“I know. But if it means keepin’ Curtis, I gotta take the chance.

He’s the only family I got in this world, Pearl.

Givin’ him up tonight nearly broke me.” Gladys sat a little straighter and patted her friend’s arm.

“Besides, you have the best intuition I’ve ever seen when it comes to men.

You wouldn’t have brought these two up here if you didn’t believe them to be honorable. If you trust them, so do I.”

“Well, I guess all we have to do now is figure out a way to get you off the property without Opal catching you.”

“Actually,” Frank said, stepping forward, “I have an idea about that. Ever hear the story about Rahab and the Israelite spies?”

Gladys’s face scrunched. “Who’s Rahab?”

“A harlot, just like us,” Pearl said, surprising Frank once again.

She glanced his way and gave him a saucy wink, clearly enjoying having the upper hand.

“She hid a pair of spies in her room, then let them down out of her window to help them escape. I’m thinkin’ the professor here is plannin’ on switchin’ things up and having the spies lower the woman through the window. Am I right, Professor?”

Frank grinned. “That you are, Miss Pearl.”

“Well then, I guess we better get busy tying the bedsheets together.”